Hollywood
Fox to bring down curtains on ‘American Idol’ in 2016; lines up new shows
MUMBAI: Popular reality show American Idol will begin its 15th – and final – season in January 2016 on Fox.
A season-long celebratory event, American Idol XV will feature host Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., as they search for the final Idol superstar and pay tribute to the past 14 seasons of talented contestants and the millions of fans who tweeted, texted and championed their Idols.
The reality show began in 2002 and was a huge success. Over the years, American Idol has been responsible for churning out singing stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson.
NEW SHOWS
Additionally, Fox also announced that its old hit The X-Files will debut with a special two-night event beginning 24 January, following the NFC Championship Game, and continuing with its time period premiere on 25 January. The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, marks the momentous return of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.
Come September, Fox will also be bringing back the new TV hit Empire. The show is expected to run up to 18 episodes next season, up from the 12 this year.
Fox will also introduce a series of new shows in 2016 like the devilish drama Lucifer, which is based on a DC Comics story and modern gothic action series The Frankenstein Code; and two comedies, The Guide To Surviving Life and animated Bordertown.
In addition, two new dramas – the futuristic Minority Report and the Miami-set Rosewood will debut this fall. Based on Steven Spielberg’s international blockbuster film and the first of his films to be adapted for television, Minority Report follows the partnership between a man (Stark Sands) haunted by the future and a cop (Meagan Good) haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes before they happen.
Ryan Murphy will return with a new show, Scream Queens, which stars Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis. Additionally, John Stamos will lead a new comedy titled Grandfathered, and Rob Lowe and Fred Savage will star in The Grinder. New Girl returns to the Tuesday comedy block in January with a season of uninterrupted episodes.
As previously announced, Grease:Live, a three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical Grease, starring superstar singers, dancers and actresses Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens, will air live on 31 January, 2016 on Fox.
Additional Fox series include: Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Bob’s Burgers, Boom!, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bullseye, Family Guy, Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef, Masterchef Junior, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, So You Think You Can Dance and World’s Funniest.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
